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COMMUNITY CONSERVATIONS: The beauty of Leominster's Barrett Park

By Cheryl Cuddahy

Updated:
07/02/2017 08:36:43 AM EDT

The summer program staff for the Leominster Recreation Department poses for a picture at Barrett Park

LEOMINSTER -- When I was a teenager, Barrett Park was the place to be. My friends and I would hang out at the beach, go swimming, jump off the docks, and play tennis. There was even a snack shack there to enjoy old-fashioned summertime goodies.

Barrett Park has come a long way since then with its natural beauty and the many activities that are held there with the help of the Leominster Recreation Department.

"Barrett Park is a beautiful place to enjoy the outdoors in a natural, peaceful setting," said Judith Sumner, director of the Leominster Recreation Department. It is a great place to walk, hike the hills, explore the woods, watch the birds, bring children to play, great areas for picnicking, fish (there were 800 trout stocked in the pond this spring) and people now can push a stroller on the trail around the pond and by the playground," she said.

The dedicated staff with the Leominster Recreation Department calls Barrett Park home, which is located at 40 Barrett Parkway.

"We want to meet the ever-growing needs of our community using our facilities," says Sumner. "It is our goal to offer quality recreation activities for all ages. These activities provide for a cooperative endeavor between the department, the School Department, and the City of Leominster."

This summer the department will be sponsoring a "Movie in the Park" for all families and friends beginning at 7:30 p.

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m. Friday, July 14, at the pavilion by the beach. It will be a Disney movie and entry is $2 per person. A concession stand will be available for a small fee. The rain date is July 15.

"There are two new pavilions for people to sit under or to have a picnic lunch," says Judith. "Now, the pavilions are available for use on a first-come first-served basis when not being used for recreational activities. People can check with our office to see if they are being used."

New and exciting this summer will be a "Family Camp Out" beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 until 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 6. Along with playing games and enjoying pizza, families can tell ghost stories, make and eat s'mores around the main campfire, take a paddle boat ride on the pond, or bring a pole and go fishing.

The cost for this mini-vacation is $30 per family and the deadline to register is Friday, July 28.

"Barrett Park offers 110 acres of open protected space to protect the wildlife and a place for everyone to enjoy nature and outdoor recreational activities such as this year's new Family Camp Out," Sumner says. It is a great place for our department to host these kinds of events for the community."

Children will learn how to live a healthy lifestyle at a "Yoga, Meditation and Mindfulness for Children" program from 9 a.m. until noon Monday, Aug. 14 through Friday, Aug. 18.

Children will explore meditation through multiple aspects including nature, art, and of course yoga. Each session begins with a practice and expands towards mindfulness, closing each day with a restorative practice.

This event is for children ages 8 to 12. The cost for this mindfulness event is $55, with a supply fee of $15 (includes yoga mat and blox).

Children can enjoy a week of friends playing kickball, tag, soccer and other fun games, while catching some rays from 9 a.m. until noon Monday, Aug. 14 through Friday, Aug. 18. This fun week is for children ages 8 to 12. Cost is $55.

The peacefulness of Barrett Park is the perfect place to run away and lose yourself in a good book. Sit back and enjoy exploring new worlds and make lifetime adventures while discussing great novels from 1 until 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14 through Friday, Aug. 18. This novel week is for children ages 12 to 14. Cost is $55.

There are many walking trails located in and around the Barrett Park area. You can take these trails and end up near the waterfall located on the property or that will lead you to another trail. Trails have been cleared and are safe for walking or hiking.

"We have a handicap accessible trail around the pond that is approximately three-quarters of a mile," said Sumner. "Volunteers from the Leominster Trail Stewards have cleared away the invasive growth around the pond, so there are now clear site lines to the pond from the entire trail."

"We recommend you take a friend or group along while hiking in the woods for safety reasons," adds Sumner. " We hope you enjoy the trails that have been designed for beginner or intermediate hikers."

Trail workdays are held on weekend mornings from 8 a.m. until noon. Teams go out in groups of five or six.

"It's a lot of fun and you get some exercise," says Sumner. "You will also learn how to properly build sustainable trails and what tools to use." Volunteers should dress comfortable and bring water, a snack, pruning saws and loppers, she said.

One question that may be on people's minds is if dogs are allowed to accompany those enjoying the park.

"The Recreation Commission made a decision to ban dogs from Barrett Park to protect the pond, lawns, and gardens," explains Sumner. "We had an overwhelming number of dog owners that wanted to use this site as a dog park and wanted to keep it a safe and clean park for walkers, the elderly, children to play, and picnicking. There are over 2,000 licensed dog owners in the city, so it would be very difficult to manage many dogs."

So, what makes Barrett Park so special?

"Barrett Park has the open spaces for our youth to play outdoor games, enjoy the fresh air, socialize with their peers, hike, and fish, use the paddle boats, all while learning about the environment in structured programs," concludes Sumner.

For more information, please feel free to contact the Leominster Recreation Department office by calling 978-534-7529 or drop in with any questions. Maps are available in the office or online.

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